An Integrated Hengqin-Macao home and community elderly care service standard system was announced in Hengqin on January 13, representing China's first standardized achievement focusing on the alignment of rules and the integration of elderly care services between Hengqin and Macao.
This enables senior residents in both Hengqin and Macao to enjoy high-quality elderly care services. Based on the Hengqin-Macao coordination, the project established a dedicated leading group for overall advancement, with support from the Macao Social Welfare Bureau, drawing upon the advanced elderly care experience of Hong Kong and Macao to create a standard system that balances professionalism and integration.
The system comprises four subsystems: general service foundation, service guarantee, service provision, and job positions. Covering six major service areas—rehabilitation nursing, home and community care, psychological/social/spiritual support, social work services, assistive device promotion, and volunteer services—the system achieves over 90% coverage of elderly care service management and provision.
During the pilot construction phase, standardization has delivered significant results. Four home-based elderly care service centers in Hengqin completed service upgrades, cumulatively serving over 226,000 seniors in 2025, including more than 17,000 service instances for Macao seniors. This has allowed Macao elders in Hengqin to genuinely experience barrier-free care.
The next step for Hengqin involves promoting the comprehensive implementation and continuous optimization of the system, deepening the integration of Hengqin-Macao elderly care services, and building a benchmark model for elderly care services in the whole GBA.
The Macao SAR government will continue to deepen the application and implementation of the standards, working with Hengqin to co-build the integrated Hengqin-Macao home and community elderly care service system.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Hengqin Online
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
